Matcha is a Japanese commodity that has been around for a long time and constitutes an enormous amount of health benefits. High-quality matcha tea is made with the laborious process of cultivating 100% authentic Tencha leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant. The leaves are kept in a shaded environment to increase the amount of chlorophyll and help to preserve their vibrant green color. The tea leaves are then carefully handpicked and steamed to preserve their flavor and nutrition.
Next, the leaves are dried, and the stems and veins are removed. The leaves are then stone-ground into a fine powder. This way, you achieve the best quality Master’s choice matcha.
It is very important to know that you are ingesting high-quality matcha to have the cultural matcha tea experience. Five ways to identify high-quality matcha are as follows:
Color
Matcha that has a vibrant, deep green hue and is free of any yellow or brownish tints is generally considered to be of high quality. When looking for high-quality matcha, the color should be bright, vivid green. This indicates that the tea leaves were freshly harvested and preserved properly. Any signs of yellow or brownish hues indicate that the tea leaves are past their prime or that the tea was not stored properly. The brighter the green, the fresher the matcha.
Texture
The texture of matcha is an important indicator of its quality. High-quality matcha should have a smooth, velvety texture, with no lumps or bumps. When you are shopping for high-quality matcha, feel the texture of the powder in your hand. It should be smooth and silky, not gritty or lumpy. If it has a gritty texture, it is likely low-quality matcha and should be avoided.
Smell
When you first open a package of high-quality matcha, you should be able to immediately smell a strong, sweet aroma. This is because high-quality matcha is made from the youngest and most tender leaves of the tea plant. These leaves contain more of flavorful and aromatic compounds that give matcha its unique smell. Low-quality matcha, on the other hand, is made from older and more mature leaves, which have fewer of these aromatic compounds.
Taste
When tasting matcha, you should look for a rich, full-bodied flavor. High-quality matcha should have a slightly sweet and grassy flavor, with a slight bitterness. If the flavor is too bitter or too sweet, then it may be a lower grade of matcha.
Grade
The grading system for matcha is based on the quality of the tea leaves used to make it. The higher quality of the leaves, the higher the grade of the matcha. Generally, the grades are broken down into three categories: ceremonial, premium, and culinary. Ceremonial grade is the highest quality, followed by premium, and then culinary. Each grade is typically associated with a certain price range and flavor profile.
In Conclusion
These are a few signs that assist you in identifying the highest-quality matcha. High-quality matcha simply means vivid green, a pleasant aroma, a silky smooth texture, and a perfect taste that is a combination of sweetness and a little bit bitter.
Buy matcha online and use these methods to find the best quality matcha tea powder!
